China again blocks bid to get JeM chief labelled terrorist

Right before its lapse, the technical hold on UN terror listing extended for 6 more months

Masood Azhar. File pic

Beijing: China yesterday said its technical hold on India's move to get Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief and Pathankot attack mastermind Masood Azhar designated a terrorist by the UNâu00c2u0080u00c2u0088has "been extended", days before the expiry of the hold.

The Chinese technical hold was set to lapse on Monday, and had China not raised further objection, the resolution designating Azhar as a terrorist could stand passed automatically.

"The technical hold on India's listing application submitted to the 1267 committee in March 2016 has already been extended," foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said. It has been extended for six more months.

On March 31 this year, China, a veto-wielding permanent member of the UNSC, had blocked India's move to put a ban on the JeM leader under the sanctions committee of the council.

China was the only member in the 15-nation UN organ to put a hold on India's plea. All other 14 members supported the bid to place Azhar on the 1267 sanctions list that would subject him to an assets freeze and travel ban.

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